Apple’s next flagship smartphone could bring significant changes for photography enthusiasts, with new leaks suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro may feature a variable aperture main camera and an upgraded telephoto lens when it launches later in 2026.
The information comes from Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, who claims Apple is currently testing a version of the device with a mechanical variable-aperture system. If implemented, the feature is expected to debut with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup during Apple’s traditional September release window.
Greater control over light and depth
A variable aperture allows the camera to physically adjust the size of the opening that lets light reach the sensor. Most smartphones currently use fixed apertures due to space constraints, relying heavily on software and computational photography to simulate effects such as background blur.
If Apple adopts the technology, users would gain more direct control over exposure and depth of field. A wider aperture would allow more light into the sensor, improving low-light performance and reducing image noise, while narrower settings could help maintain sharpness in bright conditions.
The feature could also produce more natural optical background blur—known as bokeh—reducing reliance on software-based portrait effects.
Industry observers note that Apple’s recent expansion of the camera module design may provide the physical space needed to accommodate the additional mechanical components required for such a system.
Telephoto upgrade under testing
The same leak indicates Apple is also evaluating a faster telephoto lens for the Pro models. The company is reportedly considering an aperture wider than the current f/2.8 used in the iPhone 17 Pro series.
A larger aperture on the telephoto camera would allow more light during zoomed shots, potentially improving image quality in low-light conditions—an area where telephoto lenses typically struggle.
Long-running rumor gains traction
While Digital Chat Station’s accuracy record is mixed, reports of variable aperture technology have circulated for some time. Earlier supply-chain speculation suggested the feature could arrive with the iPhone 17, before analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later pointed to the iPhone 18 generation as the more likely target.
The tipster also previously claimed that Apple was sourcing materials related to adjustable aperture mechanisms, adding weight to the possibility that the feature is under active development.
Focus on photography innovation
Camera improvements remain a central selling point for Apple’s Pro models, and the addition of hardware-based exposure control would represent one of the most significant photographic upgrades in recent years.
However, as with all early leaks, the features remain unconfirmed and could change before the device enters mass production. More details are expected to emerge as Apple’s 2026 launch cycle approaches.
